Device for opening packages, primarily cigarette packages



Aug. 25, 1953 DEVICE FOR OPENING PACKAGES, PRIMARILY CIGARETTE PACKAGES I J. F. WANDER 2,649,653

Filed July 6, 1950 Fig. 3

'IIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

JOHN FREDRIK WANDER HIS AfToRNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953 DEVICE FOR OPENING PACKAGES, PRI- MARILY CIGARETTE PACKAGES John Fredrik Vfander, Stockholm, Sweden, as-

signor to Aktiebolaget L. Gabrielsson & Co., Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application July 6, 1950, Serial No. 172,306 In Sweden February 24, 1950 11 Claims.

This invention refers to the opening of packages, primarily cigarette-packages, and comprises means for such opening.

Packages of this /kind, particularly modern packets, which are usually provided with an outermost wrapping, such as a cellophane wrapping, are difiicult to open without the use of an implement or tool, such as a pair of scissors or a pen-knife. As a rule, the wrapping and packet are torn off at one end so as to uncover one entire end face of the package, and thus the cigarettes may unintentionally fall out and are also subjected to drying when kept for relatively long periods. Even when the packages, as is often the case with American packets, are provided with a pull band to remove the cellophane wrapping from an end surface of the packet, the above disadvantages in general still remain.

The variations in the size of the packages and the nature of the wrappings have hitherto constituted a bar to a practical solution of the problem of opening the packages in a simple manner, so as to avoid the above disadvantages without incurring the risk of damaging the contents, such as the cigarettes.

The main feature of my invention is to cause an edge portion of the package to be engaged between cutting members so as to cut off a narrow strip of the package along said edge portion. A further feature is to locate the package so that the edge of an end portion projects outside the cutting edges of one cutting member and the second cutting member is moved towards the package and the other member so as to cause said rojecting edge to be engaged between the cutting members. A still further feature of my invention is to provide cutting members in the form of a cutter and die respectively, the die being stationary, and means to provide motion of the cutter towards the die in a swinging movement with the cutting edges of the cutter describing a curved path, such as an arcuate path,

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device for opening cigarette-packages according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the middle portion of the apparatus in section on the line IIII of Fig. 1 and on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a detail.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line IV--IV of Fi 1.

Referring to the drawing, an elongated housing l0, preferably forming a closed chamber and consisting of wood, Bakelite, metal or the like, is provided with an opening l2 in the upper wall thereof, and projecting into said opening is a cutter die [4 in the form of a blade having parallel lateral cutting edges I6 merging, preferably with rounded corners, into a transverse cutting fore edge i3. As shown in the drawing, the die is located flush with the upper wall, and is supported by a plate l9 secured to said wall.

A cutter 20 is provided to co-operate with the die M, the cutter consisting in the present em bodiment of a bifurcated element secured on a plate member 22 arranged on arms 26 pivotally mounted on the side walls 24 of the housing by means of a pin 25. The forked ends of the cut-' ter form between them an opening 28 having a configuration corresponding to that of the die, and the inner edges of which are formed with cutting edges arranged to co-operate with the cutting edges of the die. The cutting fore edge E8 of the die and an inner transverse cutting edge 30 of the cutter are positioned obliquely, so that they can pass each other, when said edges approach one another in a path conforming to a circular arc. This is also the case with edges 3| extending at an angle to the lateral cutting edges l6.

Provided in the upper wall of the housing behind the die M is an elongated slot 32, which in the example shown serves as guiding means for two lugs 34 projecting down into the slot and extending from a plate 35 slidably arranged on the upper face of the wall and carrying a holder or carrier 38, opening upwardly and downwardly,

for a cigarette-package indicated by chain-' dotted lines at 40. As illustrated, the lugs ii l have lateral projections 42 adapted to bear on the lower face of the wall of the housing.

The holder element 38 and the plate 35 are adapted to move the cigarette-package to and from the cutter members, and this is effected by means of a device comprising a pair of levers M, each having one end pivotally mounted on the lateral walls 24 of the housing [0 by means of .a pin 46. Secured to said pin is a resilient tongue 48 provided with a wire strap which on pivotal movement of the levers 4t enters between the lugs 34 and on further movement of the levers move the plate 36 with the holder elements 30 over the die I4 for a distance such that a cigarette-package retained by the holder is caused to project with a small edge portion thereof outside the cutting edges of the die.

Simultaneously with said forward movement the cutter 2|! will be caused to swing by means of the arms 26 downwardly toward the die Id, this movement of the arms being effected by the provision at their ends remote from the pivot pin 25 of fork-like recesses 53! engaging a rod ceonnectingthe levers 3 3, said rod being located at a distance from the pivot pin 56 of said pair of levers.

In the initial position for use .of the apparatus above described, the pair of levers A l is ,maintained in an upwardly swung position by means of a tension spring 53 secured between the-pair of levers and the housing, the holder element 38 and the plate 36 being then located as far to the right in the drawing as is permitted-by-the slot 32 and the lugs 34. In this position the rod 52 holds the cutter 253 in an upwardly swung position by bearing against the upper edge of the recesses 50 through the levers 26 and the plate 22, said position :being at a somewhat higher level than that shown in .the drawing.

In this initial position the package, in the present case the cigarette-package, is arranged in the holder element 38, and by grasping a handle 54 arranged on the levers .44, the latter are swung down in a counterclockwise direction. The resilient tongue 48 is thus caused to slide over the longer of the lugs 34 to engage between the latter so as to move the holder element and thus the cigarette-package to :the left .over the die M. At the same time, the rod 52 moves in the-recess 50 and is brought into contact with the "lower edge thereof at that moment at which the holder element 38 reaches the above-mentioned position in-which the front portion of the cigarette-package reaches a position in the fork of the cutter 20.

Oniurther swinging movement of the levers 44, the cutter commences its positively actuated movement down toward the die M into the cuttingposition due to the pressure of rod 52 on the lower edge of the recess 50. Since the die and the fork of the cutter are dimensioned so that the cigarette-package projects at its lower edges somewhat outside the die in the position shown in the drawing, prior to the movement of the cutter into the cutting position, the wrapping of the package is engaged, as will be clearly'seen from Fig. 3, along the cutting edges of the die and the cutter, so that the edge portions of the package will :be cut in the form of a .U-shaped strip. In this way an opening is produced in the wrapping, through which the cigarettes may be easily withdrawn, without damage to the remainder of the wrapping. After release of the handle 54 the apparatus takes up its initial position by the action of the tension spring 53.

In the example shown, an opening is cut in the end face of the package, as described, the cut-out portion-being formed with a hinge across the transversely extending part, the opening uncove ing approximately one third of said end faeedes ed h e the utt ng me be ma be o a si s ch that ub t nti ne hal o the nd fac o th packa is op d. in which case it becomes possible, by inverting the package in the holder element with the same end face directed downwardly, .to cut off the whole of the end wall of the wrapping of the package in two cutting operations.

If such inversion is made in the apparatus described, a narrow bridge element will remain after two cutting operations, and if it is desired Eurther, the apparatus may be provided with two cutters and two dies which acting in pairs have cuttin edgesicrming an angle between them, the openings subtended by the angles being then disposed to register with each other in the trans- ;verse direction of the apparatus, leaving between-the same a swingable wall, thus rendering itpossible-to move a cigarette-package supported zbythe-wall, in order to cut off an L-shaped strip from any corner of the end wall of such package.

-"Finaily, the arms 26 carrying the cutter 20 may be mounted above the upper face of the housing 1-0, so that the fork of the cutter moves .down toward the die with the forked ends foremost. If desired, the cigarette-package may be moved manually into the cuttingposition.

Whilecne more or less specific embodiment of the invention has been shown, it is to be under stood that this is for purpose of illustration only, and the invention is not :to be limited thereby, but its scope is to be determined by theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1,. A device for opening packages comprising a housing having sidewalls and-a top wall, ,an aperture in said top wall, a ,die'secured ,to said top wall and extending into said aperture, a cut.- ting edge on said i die, spaced substantially parallel arms pivotally mounted on said side walls adjacent one end of said 'housing, a cutter carried by said arms and ?having .a cutting edge 'for cooperating with the putting edge on said die to provide a shearing action, said arms having re.- cesses in theiropposite ends, an actuating handle comprising spaced substantially parallel arm-s pivotally mounted on said side walls adjacent the opposite end of said housing, a cross gpin con necting :the arms of said handle and extending through arcuate slots said side walls and engaging in said recesses, a slot in said top wall, a slide disposed on said top @wall and having spaced guiding lugs extending through said slot, a package holder attached to said slide and disposed above said aperture, said holder being movable toward and away from said cutter and having side walls and being open at its upper and lower ends whereby a package may be disposed in said holder with the lower end thereof resting on and supported by said die, resilient means carried by said handle and engageable between said 'lugs whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle saidiresilient means will urge said :holder and package carried thereby toward said cutter and said pin will move said cutter toward said die .to engage and sever a portion of the edge of said package bya shearing action and resilient means to return said handle, said cutter and said holder to original position.

2. A device for opening pockages as defined in claim 1 in which certain of the walls of said holder are cutaway to permit swinging move.- ment of said cutter.

3. A device for opening packages comprising a housing having side walls and a top wall, an aperiture in said .top wall, a die secured to said .top wall .and extendin into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die, spaced substantially parallel arms pivotally mounted on said side walls adJ'a- I cent one end of said housing, a cutter carried by said arms and having a cutting edge for cooperating with the cutting edge on said die to provide a shearing action, said arms having recesses in their opposite ends, an actuating handle comprising spaced substantially parallel arms pivotally mounted on said side walls adjacent the opposite end of said housing, a cross pin connectin the arms of said handle and extending through arcuate slots in said side walls and engaging in said recesses, a slot in said top wall, a slide disposed on said top wall and having spaced guiding lugs extending through said slot, a package holder attached to said slide and disposed above said aperture, said holder being movable toward and away from said cutter and having side walls and bein open at its upper and lower ends whereby a package may be disposed in said holder with the lower end thereof resting on and supported by said die, resilient means carried by said handle and engageable between said lugs whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said resilient means will urge said holder and package carried thereby toward said cutter and said pin will move said cutter toward said die to engage and sever a portion of the edge of said package by a shearing action.

4. A device for opening packages as defined in claim 3 in which said die is substantially rectangular and in which the cutting edge on said cutter is substantially U-shaped and cooperates with the edges on said die to provide a shearing action.

5. A device for opening packages comprising a housing having side walls and a top wall, an aperture in said top wall, a die secured to said top wall and extendin into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die, spaced substantially parallel arms pivotally mounted on said side walls adjacent one end of said housing, a cutter carried by said arms and having a cutting edge for cooperating with the cutting edge on said die to provide a shearing action, said arms having recesses in their opposite ends, an actuating handle comprising spaced substantially parallel arms pivotally mounted on said side walls adjacent the opposite end of said housing, a cross pin connecting the arms of said handle and extending through arcuate slots in said side walls and engaging in said recesses, a slide disposed on said top wall, a package holder attached to said slide and disposed above said aperture, said holder being movable toward and away from said cutter and having side walls and being open at its upper and lower ends whereby a package may be disposed in said holder with the lower end thereof restin on and supported by said die, resilient means carried by said handle and engageable with said slide whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said resilient means will urge said holder and package carried thereby toward said cutter and said pin will move said cutter toward said die to engage and sever a portion of the edge of said package by a shearing action.

6. A device for opening packages comprising a housing having side walls and a top wall, an aperture in said top wall, a die secured to said top wall and extending into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die, spaced substantially parallel arms pivotally mounted on said side walls adjacent one end of said housing a cutter carried by said arms and having a cutting edge for cooperating with cutting the edge on said die to provide a shearing action, an actuating handle pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite end of said housing, means connecting said handle and said cutter arms, a slide disposed on said top wall, a package holder attached to said slide and disposed above said aperture, said holder being movable toward and away from said cutter and having side walls and being open at its upper and lower ends whereby a package may be disposed in said holder with the lower end thereof resting on and supported by said die, drive means carried by said handle and engageable with said slide whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said drive means will urge said holder and package carried thereby toward said cutter and. said connecting means will move said cutter toward said die to engage and sever a portion of the edge of said package by a shearing action.

'7. A device for opening packages comprising a housing having side walls and a top wall, an aperture in said top wall, a die secured to said top wall and extending into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die, a cutter pivotally mounted adjacent one end of said housing and having a cutting edge for cooperating with the cutting edge on said die for providing a shearing action, an actuating handle pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite end of said housing, means connecting said handle and said cutter, a slide disposed on said top wall, a package holder attached to said slide and disposed above said aperture, said holder being movable toward and away from said cutter and having side walls and being open at its upper and lower ends whereby a package may be disposed in said holder with the lower end thereof resting on and supported by said die, drive means carried by said handle and engageable with said slide whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said drive means will urge said holder and package carried thereby toward said cutter and said connecting means will move said cutter toward said die to engage and sever a portion of the edge of said package by a shearing action.

8. A device for opening packages comprising a base having a top wall, an aperture in said top wall, a die secured to said top wall and extending into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die, a cutter pivotally mounted adjacent one end of said base and having a cutting edge for cooperating with the cutting edge on said die to provide a shearing action, an actuating handle pivotally mounted on said base, means connecting said handle and said cutter, a slide disposed on said top wall, a package holder attached to said slide and disposed above said aperture, said holder being movable toward and away from said outter and being open at its upper and lower ends whereby a package may be disposed in said holder with the lower end thereof resting on and supported by said die, drive means carried by said handle and engageable with said slide whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said drive means will urge said holder and package carried thereby toward said cutter and die to engage and. sever a portion of the edge of said package by a shearing action.

9. A device for opening packages comprising a base having a top wall, an aperture in said top wall, a die secured to said top wall and extending into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die, a cutter pivotally mounted adjacent one end of said base and having a cutting edge for cooperating with the cutting edge on said die for providing a shearing action, an actuating handle pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite end of said base, means connecting said handle and said aceases.

cutter, 2a package holder slida'b y mounted :Q

said base, said holder being movable toward an away ifrom said cutter ,andhavingside walls and being open at its upper and lower ends whereby apackage :may be disposed in said holder with the'llower lend thereof resting on and sup-ported by said die, drive means carried by said handle and engageable "with said holder whereby .upon pinotalzmovement-of said handle said drive mean iirgesaid holderand package carried thereby toward said cutter and said connecting means will moue said cutter toward said die to en age and sever a :portion :of said package by a shearineaction.

10. .A device for opening packages comprising a basehaving a top wall,'- an;aper.ture in said top wa1l,':a: die seemted to'said 1301) Wall and extending into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die; a cutter pivotally mounted adj acent one end :of said base and having :a cutting .edge for cooperating with-the cutting :edge on said die to provide a shearing action, an actuating handle pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite .end .of said base, means connecting said handle andsaid cutter, a package holder sli'da'bly mounted on said base and disposed above said aperture whereby a package "may :be disposed in said holder with the-lower .end thereof resting on and supported by said :die, said holder bein movable toward and away from said nutter, drive means carried by saidv handle and engageable with said holder whereby uponipivotal movement .of said handle said drivelmeans will urge said holder and packagecarried thereby toward said cutter and said connecting means will move said cutter toward said die to engage and sever a portion of the edge of said package by -a shearing action.

.11. A device for opening packages comprising a: base having atop wall, -an aperture in said top wall, a die secured to said base and extending into said aperture, a cutting edge on said die, a cutter pivotally mounted on said base and having a -cutting edge for cooperating with the cutting edge on-sai'ddie to provide a shearing action, an actuating handle pivotal-1y mounted on said base, a package holder slidably mounted on said base and disposed above said aperture whereby a package may be disposed in said holder with the lower end thereof resting on and supported by said die, said holder being movable toward and away from said :cutter, drive means carried by said handle and engageable with said holder whereby upon pivotal movement of said handle said drive means willurge said holder and said package carried thereby toward said cutter and d connecting means will move said cutter toward said die to engage and sever a portion of the edge of said package by a shearing action.

' JOHN *FREDRI-K WANDE'R.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

